This is the README for objcX-0.87.tgz [Download] [Browse] [Up]
OVERVIEW
This directory is where we build the libraries that emulate the
NeXTSTEP environment. It is also a start for the OpenStep enviroment.
The subdirectories are...
- appkit. The class library for the Graphical User Interface.
- defaults. Holds "defaults.h".
- dpsclient. Classes and headers for the DPS interface, which include
an interface to X-windows Xlib/Xt functions.
- examples. This directory contains subdirectories with examples of
code that use the library. Many of the examples read objects from
archive (*.xmib) files. These archive files were generated by
translating archive files produced by NeXT's InterfaceBuilder with the
nib-translator (trnib). For these examples, the original NeXTSTEP
files are also included (PB.project, Makefile, etc.) and build on
non-NeXT platform should use makefile.
- foundation. Was an implementation of Foundation.
- gnuarchive. This directory contains files to build the library
libgnuarchive.a which contains the minimum from the GNU Objective-C
run-time system to supports GNU archiving and unarchiving. This
library can be included in a NeXTSTEP application on a NeXT machine.
- makefileConversions. This folder contains some context diffs which,
when patched with NeXT's source makefiles, create similar makefiles
which work at least on Suns and possibly on other machines, using the
objcX package instead of NeXT's libraries.
- nib-translator. Creates a program to translate an object archive
file created by the NeXT InterfaceBuilder into an object archive file
that can be read with the objcX class library.
- objc. This directory contains some extensions to the standard gcc
runtime support classes and functions. See the README file in this
directory for detals.
- streams. This directory emulates NeXTSTEP/OpenStep streams package
using stdio.
NOTES:
The ability to read TIFF files has been added to NXImage and
NXBitmapImageRep. In order to use this feature, you need to get the
latest libtiff library. This software is available for public ftp on
sgi.com graphics/tiff/tiff-v3.4beta016-tar.gz
(192.48.153.1)
It is important that you get at least this version, otherwise it will
not work with objcX. After you have compiled this library, edit the
OpenStep top-level makefile to define HAVE_LIBTIFF, and compile
OpenStep. You must also include libtiff (-ltiff) when you compile
your own program (See examples/NXImage for an example).
You can dynamically load in code using NXBundle *if* you have a machine that
supports dynamic linking. The configuration script that the objcX library
uses should be able to determine if this is true. You also need to
configure your main program to use the dynamic linking facilities of your
system. Look in the examples/NXBundle directory or the examples that
come with the libobjects library for help on how to do this.
DRAWING WITH OBJCX:
The dpsclient directory now contains an XtDrawContext object which
provides an interface between the DPS psops/wraps function calls and
equivalent Xlib/Xt functions. While this isn't anything close to a
PostScript implementation, you should be able to do simple drawing
using standard psops function calls. See the README in the
dpsclient subdirectory for more information.
PORTING
The library and examples are known to work on the following
operating systems...
- AIX 3.2.5 (with hacks applied to gcc. Ask
Paul_Kunz@slac.stanford.edu for details).
- Digital UNIX (formerly OSF/1)
- HP/UX 9.01 (with gcc configured with gas)
- IRIX
- Linux
- Solaris 2.3 (with one small fix to objects/Time.m)
- Solaris 2.4
- SunOS 4.1.x
- Ultrix 4.2
BUG REPORTS
Bug reports should be sent to the GNUStep mailing list. You can
join this list by sending e-mail to
discussion-request@gnustep.org
The file TOFIXLIST contains a list of known bugs that are visible by
running the examples.
FUTURES
The library is far from complete. Volunteers are needed to make
it more complete and help in the transition to OpenStep in the future.
Also the library can not become GNU software as long as it relies on
Motif. Volunteers are needed to re-implement the xm*.m and xt*.m
files in the appkit directory with a free widget set. See the
appkit/FUTURES files for details.
These are the contents of the former NiCE NeXT User Group NeXTSTEP/OpenStep software archive, currently hosted by Netfuture.ch.